The death has taken place after illness of the great Louth footballer Stephen Melia. Holder of a record 179 appearances for the county, in a senior career that spanned three decades from 1984 until 2001, as both centrefielder and central defender he captained the county to success in the 2000 NFL Division Two final against Offaly.

He represented Leinster in the Railway Cup on many occasions, including the 1993 final against Ulster.

From Ardee, where he played a key role in the local club John Mitchels’ 1992 junior championship triumph, Stephen Melia moved later in life to Balbriggan in north county Dublin and played for O’Dwyer’s.

In his later career he played again in Louth, this time for St Joseph’s Dromiskin, and in 2006 – by which stage he was a county selector with Eamonn McEneaney – he featured for the club as they won the senior county title.

He also served as a selector with Paddy Clarke earlier in the decade. His county career ended in 2001 with defeat by Westmeath in the first season of the All-Ireland qualifiers – Louth having contested the very first one, against Tipperary that summer.

Speaking on behalf of the Gaelic Players Association, CEO Dessie Farrell said:

“He was a great players’ man, a strong and courageous advocate for the Gaelic Players Association, particularly in the early years of the Association. On a personal level I was privileged to play against Stephen, he was a great footballer, a powerful opponent and a wonderful person. I’m deeply saddened to learn of his passing. May he rest in peace.”